The Great Gatsby and The Roaring 20’s Fashion

If you love glitz and glamour, you are in for a treat with The Great Gatsby. Baz Luhrmann’s

Picture source: Vogue

adaptation of the American Classic is faithful to the book, and although it is often criticized for it’s lack of subtlety , we are not movie critics. The fashion however, is breathtakingly beautiful. The Great Gatsby is a love story, a journey of hope, the American dream and it’s criticism. The characters are all beautiful and seemingly naive, but as the story progresses the facades break and we glimpse into what truly motivate them, whether it be love, greed or obsession (all of the above?).

The movie in itself is visually stunning, and exuberant as is Baz Luhrmann’s style. So it comes as no shock that the clothing is era appropriate in all it’s glory. Daisy Buchanan, played by Carey Mulligan is the main fashion focus of the movie (although certainly not the only). Between the iconic flapper dresses and jeweled headbands, she is the picture perfect of a wealthy young woman in the 20’s. Mulligan gives the character depth behind the sequins and diamonds which could have engulfed another actress into a primarily vapid character.

The 1920’s, often under-appreciated in men’s fashion history, was an era of extravagance, luxury and indulgence.Nowhere in recent media has inspiration from this era been better portrayed than in Baz Luhrmann’s, The Great Gatsby.

In the movie, high-waisted slacks, double-breasted suits and waistcoats are staples that exude class,wealth and status. These garments were usually monochromatic and in shades such as creams, whites, light blues and pastels. Accessories such as pocket squares, pocket watches and boutonnieres were also very popular. For days on sea or by the beach, men opted for retro swimmers and straw boaters. Wide-legged trousers, known as “Oxford bags” at the time, were starting to gain popularity as well as shawl collard cardigans and cable knit jumpers.

As for the hair styles of the Roaring Twenties era in Gatsby, the popular choices were licked hair and smooth side and center parts, usually shorter on the sides and longer on top and held back with a greasy product to keep the hair out of the face. Trimmed mustaches and beards were also in style.

The recent release of The Great Gatsby has caught the eye of many designers and we can look forward to the style from the movie and other styles of the “Roaring Twenties” to influence the new trends and inspirations for menswear in the coming months.

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